Sandwatch & Climate Change

What is climate change?

Climate change is defined as a change in climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and is observed over long periods of time (many decades).

Climate on earth has changed continually as the planet has evolved geologically. Natural causes include changes in the amount of the sun's solar radiation reaching the earth, and volcanic eruptions that can shroud the earth in dust thereby reflecting the heat from the sun back into space. Most of the historical changes in climate have occurred on time scales far longer than a human life - centuries, millennia or millions of years.

Natural causes, however, can explain only a small part of the present warming trend that has been observed during the second half of the 20th century. There is now unequivocal evidence that the earth's climate is changing as a result of human activities, principally, increased carbon dioxide emissions since pre-industrial times (1700s). The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that rising concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) in the atmosphere are causing climate to change.

From: Clark College, 2003

Where to get more information on climate change?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is one of the most accurate sources of information on climate change. The IPCC was established in 1988 to provide decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information. The IPCC provides regular assessment reports on the state of the climate. These reports are available on their website at www.ipcc.ch . The next (5th) Assessment report is due to be published in 2014.

How will climate change affect beaches?

Most of the impacts to beaches are going to be negative. Here are some examples:

·Beach erosion will likely increase as a result of rising sea levels and more intense cyclones (hurricanes/typhoons); in high latitudes disappearing sea ice may leave shorelines more exposed to wave energy

·Changing rainfall patterns will influence river flow and the volume of sediment being transported to the coast;

·Incidents of coral bleaching will increase as sea temperatures rise

·As the oceans become more acidic, corals will become more stressed

·Plants and animals inhabiting beaches may become more stressed as temperatures rise

How can Sandwatch play a role?

Many people, when they hear or read about climate change, respond by thinking "This issue is just too big for me alone to deal with" or "Climate change doesn't affect me or where I live." But climate change is already ongoing, it is happening now and it is not something that is going to start next year or in ten years time. Climate change is affecting each one of us, sometimes in small ways. For example, the ice is thinner in the Canadian Arctic and as a result there is a higher incidence of Inuit hunters falling through the ice; and residents in some islands of the Caribbean are noticing that the dry seasons are lasting longer and longer each year. Small changes, yes, but they affect how we live our lives.

Should we panic? No. Should we listen, learn, understand and begin to adapt to climate change now? Yes. Within the framework of Sandwatch we can learn firsthand about the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on our beaches and coasts. For example, how will rising sea levels and more intense hurricanes affect our particular beach and will increasing temperatures affect turtle hatching? Sandwatch can help us conduct research, share our findings and then take action on these potential impacts.

Here are some examples of how Sandwatch is involved in climate changes activities: